Upwardly acting door and sections therefor



April 4, 1961 E. L- sTRouP sr AL UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR AND SECTIONS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 1 EHBL L.577QOUP. 1. 4L

ATTORNEY.

April 4, 1961 E. L. STROUP ETAL 2,978,021

UPWARDLY ACTING DOOR AND SECTIONS THEREFOR Filed 001;. ll, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

A T'T'ORNEY EAIEL L swam/Esra in alignment as when the door is closed.

. Filed Oct. 11, 195 1, Ser. No. 689,703

13 Claims. (Cl.'160-- 191) This invention relatesto upwardly acting doors of the sectional horizontally articulated type.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an upwardly acting door of the type comprising a plurality of horizontal sections which is well adapted for use in trucks and other cargotransporting vehicles and one which is effectively sealed when in closed position and at the same time is very easily oper-. a'ted to and from closed position with a minimum of eifort and frictional wear on the jamb seal elements.

Second, to provide a sectional door presenting smooth internal and external surfaces when the door sections are Third, to provide sectional doors having these .ad vantages in which the sections including thehinge members thereof are formedof sheet stock and may be readily assembled and disassembled and one inwhich there are no projecting hinge elements.

Fourth, to provide a sectional door having these advantages which is well adapted for use inan assembly including door jambs and tracks having. upright sections rearwardly inclined relative to the door jambs and jamb seals which are highly efficient as seals when the door is closed, at the same timethere are no moving parts other thanthe door itself, that is, the jamb seals are mounted inrelatively fixed position as distinguished from being movable into door engaging position.

Fifth, to provide a door section for a sectional door which may be formed of relatively light sheet metal stock and at the same time is strongand rigid and has integral hinge knuckle members adapted for telescoping engagement with similar sections, the hinges being effectively housed to prevent injury thereto or dislocation thereof in the operation of the door when objects are in contact with either side thereof.

Sixth, .to provide ajdoor of the upwardly acting counterbalanced type provided with jamb seals and including cables positioned in relation to the door and to the jamb seals so that accumulations of ice or other foreign mat-. ters areruptured or broken away onthe initial opening movement of the door thereby freeing the door fOrIopening movement and minimizingdamage to the jamb seals. Further objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow.

Theinventionis defined and pointed out in the claims. A preferredembodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary inside view of a door embodying my invention in closed position. 7 V V Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section on, a line cor-. responding to line 22 of Fig. 6.

' Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a bottom and adjacent door section partially in vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary exploded view of the outer and inner door section panels and the closure members for the'channel like offset struts of the inner panel. 1 Fig.5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in section on a line corresponding'to line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

v United States Patent 0 p 2 a door frame.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in horizontal section on a line corresponding to line 6-6 of Figs. v1 and 5. v

1 Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view mainly in section on a line corresponding to line 77 of Fig. 1.

' In the accompanying drawing 1 represents a wall and The door is of theupwardly acting type and comprises the top section 3, bottom section 4 and a plurality of intermediate sections 5. An important feature of my invention is the structure of these sections and their hinging connections, the structure of the sections being such that they may be formed of relatively light sheet metal stock and at the same time are strong and rigid presenting substantially smooth inner and outer surfaces and having integral hinge knuckles at the edges thereof which may be quickly and easily engaged with coacting' knuckles of adjacent sections and at the same time are well protected.

. In the embodiment illustrated the door sections comprise outer panels 6 having inwardly projecting flanges 7 at their upper ends and 8 at their lower ends, the inner edge of the flange 7 is rolled or coiled upwardly to provide a female hinge member 9 while the inner edge of the lower flange 8 is rolled or coiled upwardly to provide a male knuckle member 10 engageable with the female coupling member of an adjacent like section. The hinge members may be engaged by a longitudinal telescoping movement of the sections or, if desired, the female hinge member. may be opened to snap over the male member when presented later-ally thereto and then closed around the same. However, the telescoping engagement is the simplest and most desirable.

The inner panel 11 is provided with an inwardly projecting angled flange 12 at its upper end and an inwardly projecting angled flange 13 at its lower end. These flanges are positioned against the inner side of the outer panel and secured thereto, desirably by spot welds indicated at 14. The flange 13 is spaced from the flange 8. and coacts therewith to provide a housing for the hinge knuckle of the adjacent section in all positions of the sections relative to each other, that is, the hinge knuckles are positioned between the adjacent sections so that they do not project from the inner side of the inner panel, at

the same time they permit a free swinging movement ofthe sections relative to each other.

The inner panel is provided with outwardly offset channel shaped strut or brace portions 15 extending longitudinally thereof, these being laterally spaced and These closuremembers prevent any collapsing of the.

sections of the inner panel-between the struts and the struts. constitute effective reinforcing members for the,

panels which are commonly'of considerable length.

In the embodiment illustrated the upright track sections 22 are disposed in a rearwardly inclined relation relative to the door frame or the door jamb thereof and are mounted on the combined track supporting jamb members 23 which are bolted or otherwise secured to the door frame, the bolts being shown at 24.

the innerflange 25 thereof constitute guards for the track and roller spindles .26 which project from the ends rotatabl'y of the door sections, the rollers 27 being mounted on the spindlesr Patented Apr. 4, 1961 7 These. members 23 have laterally facing channel sections and These supporting uprights 23 have flanges 27 on their inner arms which constitute supports for the outer edges of the jamb seals 28 which comprise resilient body portions having nap-like faces 29 of fibrous material and against which the door closes. When it is in closed position the counterbalance designated generally by the numeral 30 is of coil spring type, the coil spring being conventionally shown at 31, the drums at 32 and cables 33 connected to the bottom panel which are connected at their free ends to the bottom section.

The inwardly facing channel shaped stiles 34 embrace the ends of the panels with the inner arms 35 in overlapping engagement with members 21. These stiles are fixedly secured to the panels and to the members 31 by spot welds indicatedat 36. These stiles not only provide closures for the ends of the door sections but substantially reinforce the same and also serve to retain the closure member 21.

All of these door section parts coact to the end that, while they may be formed of light sheet metal stock when arranged and connected as described, the result is a very rigid structure in comparison to the weight and one which is substantially smooth on the inner and outer sides which is particularly desirable when used in connection with trucks, freight cars and the like.

The bottom section 4 is provided with a sill seal 37 which is cross-sectionally conformed to telescopingly engage the hinge knuckle at the lower edge of the bottom section as is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 7. The cable 33 is disposed through holes 38 provided therefor in this sill seal, the end of the cable being engaged in the keyhole slot 38 provided therefor, the stiles in the inner panel having registering openings therein adapted to receive the clip 39 on the ends of the cable. The load on the cable holds the ends thereof in engagement with these keyhole slots.

To compensate for the rearward inclination of the track roller spindles 26 are provided with shank portions 40 which may be selectively positioned in the sockets 41 mounted in the holders 42 disposed between the inner and outer panels and in supported engagement, as is illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7.

The stiles are provided with openings 43 through which the spindles may be inserted, the holders 41 being those illustrated in application for patent, Serial #672,612, filed July 19, 1957, Patent No. 2,871,932, issued February 3, 1959. This arrangement not only permits adjustment of the rollers according to the inclination of the track but has the further advantage of positioning the spindles so that they project from the end edges of the door sections and do not in any manner obstruct the inside of the door. As pointed out they are guarded by the flange 25 on the track support members 23.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof and particularly as adapted for a truck, freight car door or the like. In the embodiment illustrated the upright portions of the tracks are illustrated as being rearwardly inclined. It is desired to point out that the major portion of thesubject matter of this application is adapted for and may be readily embodied in structures in which the upright portion of the tracks are not inclined. With jamb seals of the type illustrated the frictional engagement therewith with the door is relatively slight. It is not of particular importance to have clearance such as results from the rearward inclination of the tracks which is a feature of substantial advantage where certain other types of jamb seals are used. However, it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt the invention to particular uses and it should be understood that it is a desirable structure for any sectional door of this type.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A closure member including, hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles telescopingly engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges of angled section on its longitudinal edges disposed against the outer panel between its said flanges and fixedly secured thereto with one flange in supporting relation to the flange of the outer panel having the female knuckle member thereon, its other flange being spaced from the flange of the other panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections, said inner panel having longitudinally extending laterally spaced outward offsets of inwardly facing channel section disposed with their bights against and fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer panel, the sides of said offsets having inwardly facing longitudinal grooves therein, panel reinforcing and closure members for said panel offsets of outwardly facing channel section springably engaged in said offsets and having longitudinal ribs on the arms thereof engaged with the longitudinal grooves in the sides of said offsets with the faces thereof substantially flush with the face of the inner panel, and stiles of inwardly facing channel section embracing the ends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereto with the inner arms thereof in overlapping relation to said offset closure members.

2. A closure member including, hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles telescopingly engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges of angled section on its longitudinal edges disposed against the outer panel between its said flanges and fixedly secured thereto with one flange in supporting relation to the flange of the outer panel having the female knuckle member thereon, its other flange being spaced from the flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections, said inner panel having longitudinally extending laterally spaced outward offsets of inwardly facing channel section disposed with their bights against and fixedly secured to the inner side of outer panel, and stiles of inwardly facing channel embracing the ends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereto.

3. A closure member including hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly secured to the outer panel and between its said flanges wlth one flange spaced from the flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections, said inner panel having longitudinally extending laterally spaced outward offsets of inwardly facing channel section disposed with their bights against and fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer panel, panel reinforcing and closure members for said panel offsets of outwardly facing channel section springably engaged in said offsets with the faces thereof substantially flush with the face of the inner panel, spindle socket members provided with spindle sockets supportedly disposed between said panels, and stiles of inwardly facing channel section ernbracing the ends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereto with the inner arms thereof in overlapping relation to said offset closure members, said stiles having openings in the webs thereof aligned with the spindle sockets .of the spindle socket members.

A 4. A closure member' including hingedlyflconnected sections comprising an outer panel inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel hav ing outturned flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly bers provided with spindle sockets supportedly disposed between said panels, and stiles of inwardly facing channel section embracing the ends of said outer and inner panels 'and fixedly secured thereto, said stiles having openings in the Webs thereof aligned with the spindle sockets of the spindle socket members.

5. A closure member including hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and femalehinge knuckles engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel havingoutturned flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly secured to the outer panel and between its said flanges with one flange spaced from the flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sec- 7 tions, said inner panel having longitudinally extending laterally spaced outward-oflsets of inwardly facing chan nel section disposed with their bights and fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer panel, panel reinforcing and closure members for said panel offsets of outwardly facing'channel section springably engaged in said offsets with the faces thereof substantially flush with the face of the inner panel, and stiles of inwardly facing channel section embracing the ends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereto with the inner armsthcreof infdverlapping relation to said offset closure members.

A closure member including "hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly secured to the outer panel and between its said flanges with one flange spaced from the flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections, said inner panel having a longitudinally extending outward olfset of inwardly facing channel section channel section disposed with its bight against and fixedly securedto the inner side of the outer panel, and stiles of inwardly facingsection embracing the ends of said-outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereon. -8. A closure member including hingedly-connected sections comprising an outerpanel'having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardlyand outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles telescopingly engageable withcoacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges fixedly secured to the outer panel and disposed between its said flanges with one flange in supporting relation to the flange of the outer panel having the female knuckle member thereon, its outer flangebeing spaced from the flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to'receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair ofsections, said inner panel having an outward offset of inwardly facing channel section extending from end to end thereof and disposed with its bight against and fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer panel, a panel reinforcing and closure member for'saidpanel offset of outwardly facing channel section springably engagedin said offset and with the face thereof substantiallyflushwith-the face of the inner panel, the sides of said offset and the arms of'said closure memberhaving coengaging ribs and grooves, and

stiles of inwardly facing channel section embracing theends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured .thereto with the inner arms thereof in overlapping re disposed with its bight against and fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer panel, panel reinforcing and closure members for said panel offsets of outwardly facing channel section springably engaged in said offsets with the faces thereof substantially flush with the face of the inner panel, and stiles of inwardly facing channel section embracing the ends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereto with the inner arms thereof in overlapping relation to said oflset closure members.

7. A closure member including hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly secured to the outer panel and between its said flanges with one flange spaced from the flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member therelation to said offset closure member.

9. A closure member including hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly andnoutwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles telescopingly engageable' with. coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges fixedly securedttoztheouter panel and disposed between its said fi'ange'szwith oneflange spaced fromv the flange of the outer panel having the'male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections, saidiinnerv panel having an outward offset of inwardly facing channel section extending from end to end thereof and disposed with its bight against and fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer panel, a panel reinforcing and closure member for said panel offset of outwardly facing channel section springably engaged in said offset and with the face thereof substantially flush with the face of the inner panel, and stiles of inwardly facing channel section embracing the ends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereto with the inner arms thereof in overlapping relation to said offset closure members.

10. A closure member including hingedly connected sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal, edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles telescopingly engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturned flanges fixedly secured to the outer panel and disposed between its said flanges with one flange in supporting relation to the flange of the outer panel having the female knuckle member thereon, its outer flange being spaced from the flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections, said inner panel having an outward offset of inwardly facing channel section extending from end to end thereof and disposed with its bight against and fixedly secured to the inner side of the outer panel, the sidesof said offset and the arms of said closure member having coengaging ribs and gIQQY S, and sti es of inwardly facing channel section embracing the ends. of said outer and inner panels and: fixedly secured thereto. 11. An upwardly acting door assembly comprisin a plurality of sections including a bottom section, the.

sections comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles engageable with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel. having outturned flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly secured to the outer panel between its said flanges with its lower flange spaced from the lower flange of the outer panel having the 'male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair'of sections therebetween, roller spindle socket members provided with spindle sockets supportedly disposed between said panels, the bottom section having spindle socket members disposed between the panels thereof in superimposed relation to the outwardly projecting flange of the inner panel, a sill seal member telescopically engaged with the hinge knuckle at the bottom edge of the bottom section and in upward thrust sustaining engagement with the bottom flange of the inner panel, track engaging rollers provided with spindles engaged with said spindle sockets, and stiles of inwardly facing channel section embracing the ends of said outer and inner panels and fixedly secured thereto, said stiles having openings in the webs thereof aligned with the spindle sockets of the spindle socket member.

12. An upwardly acting door assembly comprising a plurality of sections including a bottom section, the sec-. tions comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions. dimensioned to provide male and female hinge knuckles engage'able with coacting hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturncd flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly secured to the outer panel between its said flanges with its lower flange spaced from the lower flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections therebetween, a sill seal member telescopingly engaged with the hinge knuckle at the bottom edge of the bottom section and in upward thrust sustaining engagesill seal member and in supporting engagement with the inwardly projecting flange at the bottom of the bottom door section and extending upwardly therefrom, overlapping portions of said inner panel and said stiles having keyhole slots therein with which the ends of said cables are retainingly engaged.

'13. An upwardly acting door assembly comprising a plurality of sections including a bottom section, the sec: tions comprising an outer panel having inwardly projecting flanges on its longitudinal edges having upwardly and outwardly curved edge portions dimensioned to pro vide male and female hinge knuckles of adjacent sections, an inner panel having outturncd flanges on its longitudinal edges fixedly secured to the outer panel between its said flanges with its lower flange spaced from the lower flange of the outer panel having the male knuckle member thereon to receive the engaged knuckles of a hingedly engaged pair of sections therebetween, roller spindle socket members provided with spindle sockets supportedly disposed between said panels, the bottom section having spindle socket members disposed between the panels thereof in superimposed relation to the outwardly projecting flange of the inner panel, and a sill seal member telescopingly engaged with the hinge knuckle at the bottom edge of the bottom section and in upward thrust engagementwith the bottom flange of the inner panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,579,839 Raper Apr. 6, 1926 1,680,538 Gross Aug. 14, 1928 1,985,976 Clark Jan. 1, 1935 2,126,418 Siess et al. Aug. 9, 1938 2,291,583 Rowe July 28, 1942 2,330,670 Black Sept. 28, 1943 2,567,031 Schlytern Sept. 4, 1 2 793 690 IDI P M y 28, 1957 2,827,114 Stroup Mar. 18, 1958 

